Supporters:

2018 MIT Open Eligibility and Rules

The MIT Open is open to dancers of all ages. It is a competition for amateur dancers only so professional dancers are not permitted to compete.

The single-ladder YCN points system will be used at all levels. Please pay close attention to the YCN rules to determine your eligibility for Novice and Pre-Championship at the 2018 MIT Open. If you have any questions about your eligibility to dance at a certain level, please feel free to contact the Competition Coordinator at mitbdt-comp-coord@mit.edu.

We will be strictly enforcing eligibility rules. Any dancer dancing down will be disqualified, even after the event.

Newcomer

Competitors are eligible to dance in the Newcomer level only if both dancers in the partnership had not started their competitive training and/or competed in a ballroom competition before January 1, 2018. Dancers who are eligible to dance as a Newcomer also may not have accumulated 7 or more YCN points in the individual dance(s) they will be registering for at the MIT Open.

Beginner

Amateur competitors are eligible to dance in the Beginner level only if both of the competitors in the partnership have less than 3 full semesters (or half-year equivalents for non-students) of competitive ballroom dancing experience. A full semester (or half-year equivalent) of competitive ballroom experience includes participation in one or more competitions and/or competitive training during that semester. The semesters (or half-year equivalents) need not be continuous, so semesters without competitive training do not count towards to total.

Any dancer competing in the Beginner level may not have accumulated 7 or more YCN points in Bronze in the individual dance(s) they will be registering for at the MIT Open.

Intermediate, Advanced

The Intermediate and Advanced levels are open to amateur dancers who have accumulated fewer than 7 YCN points in Silver or Gold, respectively.

Eligibility will be based on results for individual dances. For instance, if someone has 7 points in Silver Bolero, but fewer points in the other Rhythm dances, he or she will need to compete in Advanced for Bolero but may still compete in Intermediate for the other dances.

There are no time restrictions for dancing experience in these levels.

Novice, Pre-Championship

The Novice and Pre-Championship levels are open to amateur dancers who have accumulated fewer than 7 YCN points in Novice or Pre-Champ, respectively, according to the single-ladder YCN point system.

Eligibility will be based on results for individual dances. There are no time restrictions for dancing experience in these levels.

Championship

All amateur competitors are eligible to dance at this level.

Eligibility and Points Earned During the MIT Open

Your eligibility for a particular event cannot change during the MIT Open. For instance, if you are eligible for Advanced Latin at the beginning of the MIT Open, and you double-register and place in the final of Novice Latin, the points you earn from Novice Latin will not be counted toward your eligibility for Advanced Latin the next day.

Double registering is only allowed between the Advanced, Novice, Pre-Championship, and Championship levels. Double registering for events at two syllabus levels will not be permitted, i.e., each competitor may compete in each of the 19 dances only once at the syllabus level (Newcomer, Beginner, Intermediate, or Advanced).

Newcomer

Permissible figures will be restricted to the ISTD Bronze syllabus for International-style dances and USISTD, NDCA, DVIDA, FADS, AMDS, or similar Bronze syllabi for the American-style dances.

Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

For all three levels, we will be allowing any figure that is Gold or below in the ISTD syllabus for the International-style events and the USISTD, NDCA, DVIDA, FADS, or AMDS syllabi or similar for the American-style events.

Novice, Pre-Championship and Championship

No costumes are permitted at the Newcomer level. Costumes are permitted but not required for all other levels.

Although there are no formal restrictions on costumes, please make sure they are appropriate. We reserve the right to restrict dancers from competing if a costume is deemed to be inappropriate by the Chairman of Judges.

Heel covers are required on all ladies' high-heeled shoes. Lack of heel covers can result in disqualification and removal from venue. Suede stars will be available at the information desk. Additionally, our vendors may have heel covers for sale.

The MIT Open reserves the right to cap the number of registrants for any individual event. Individuals wishing to register for an event that is full may email the registrar at mitbdt-registrar@mit.edu to be placed on a waitlist.